How to Photograph Storm Damage for an Insurance Claim

The storm passes, the yard is full of leaves and shingle grit, and the first thing most people do is grab their phone and start taking pictures. Good instinct. The problem is that most storm photos end up being twenty shots of the same tree branch and one blurry picture of the roof from the driveway.

Photos are often the first evidence your insurance company sees, and they're the record you'll lean on if anything gets disputed later. A few minutes of organized photos right after a storm can make the whole claim go smoother.

This guide covers what to photograph, how to shoot it so it's actually useful, and how to do all of it without climbing on your roof.

First: Stay Off the Roof

Please don't get on the roof to take pictures. Storm-damaged roofs are slick with loose granules, shingles can be lifted or cracked, and decking can be soft where water got in. Every year, people get hurt doing exactly this.

You can document a surprising amount from the ground, and the roof itself is what your roofer and adjuster are trained to inspect up close. Also stay away from downed power lines, sagging gutters and anything hanging off the house.

Record the Storm Itself

Before you photograph the house, write down the basics while they're fresh:

• Date and approximate time the storm hit
• What you saw: hail, high wind, a tornado warning, heavy rain
• Hail size, if you can find a hailstone (more on that below)
• Any news alerts or weather warnings you received

Your insurer will usually confirm the storm with weather data, but your notes help match the damage to the right date. If you're not sure of the exact day, the National Weather Service's storm reports and NOAA's Storm Events Database list hail and wind reports by location and date.

What to Photograph (From the Ground)

Hail and wind leave marks on a lot more than shingles. Adjusters look at these "collateral" items because they show how hard the storm hit your property.

For more on what roof damage looks like up close, see our guides to identifying hail damage and spotting roof damage after a storm.

Don't Forget Inside the House

Water damage often shows up indoors before anyone notices a problem on the roof. Walk through the house and photograph:

• Ceiling stains, drips or bubbling paint
• Wet spots around windows, skylights and chimneys
• The attic, if you can get in safely: wet insulation, dark spots on decking, daylight through the roof
• Anything that got wet: flooring, drywall, furniture, stored items

Take a photo when you first find it, then again a day or two later. Stains that grow over time help show the leak is active.

How to Take Photos That Actually Help

A pile of random photos is hard for anyone to use. A few habits make yours a lot more useful.

1. Go wide, then close. For each area, take one wide shot that shows where it is on the house, then close-ups of the damage. A close-up of a dent means a lot more when the adjuster knows it's the downspout by the back door.
2. Add something for scale. A coin, a tape measure or a ruler next to a dent or a hailstone shows size at a glance.
3. Shoot every side. Walk the whole house: front, back, both sides. Storms usually hit one or two sides hardest, and that pattern matters.
4. Use daylight. Hail marks on metal are easiest to see with the sun at an angle, in the morning or late afternoon.
5. Take a video walkaround. Walk the perimeter slowly and narrate what you see. It ties all your photos together.
6. Keep the originals. Don't crop, filter or edit them. Original files keep the date, time and location data your phone saves automatically.

Hailstones Melt Fast

If you can safely pick up hailstones right after the storm, photograph the biggest ones next to a coin or ruler. Then put a few in a bag in the freezer. It sounds silly, but it's one of the clearest pieces of evidence you can have. Our hail size guide explains what each size usually does to a roof.

Protect the House, and Photograph That Too

Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent more damage after a storm, like covering an opening or catching drips. Photograph the damage first, then:

• Photograph the temporary fix (tarp, buckets, towels)
• Keep receipts for tarps, materials and any emergency service
• Hold on to damaged items until your adjuster has seen them or tells you otherwise

If you need a tarp on the roof, call a roofer instead of climbing up yourself. More in our emergency roof tarping guide.

Organize Before You Call

Before you file, spend ten minutes getting organized. Make a folder on your phone or computer, name photos by area if you can ("back gutter," "AC unit," "bedroom ceiling"), and keep your storm notes, receipts and claim number in the same place. Back it up to the cloud or email it to yourself so nothing gets lost if your phone does.

Oklahoma insurers must acknowledge a claim within 20 business days and accept or deny it within 45 business days of receiving a properly executed proof of loss. Policies also set their own deadlines for reporting damage, so don't wait. Our guide on how long you have to file walks through it.

What Your Photos Can't Do

Ground photos are a great start, but they can't show everything. Bruised shingles, cracked mats and damaged flashing often only show up on the roof, under good light, from a few inches away. That's why a professional inspection matters before the adjuster visits.

When we inspect a roof after a storm, we photograph the damage on every slope, mark and count hits in test squares, check soft metals and flashing, and give you a photo report you can keep with your claim. If the claim moves forward, we can meet your adjuster on the roof so nothing gets missed. If items get missed anyway, they're handled through a documented supplement.

One more thing: be careful with anyone who knocks on your door right after a storm offering to "take care of everything." In Oklahoma, it's illegal for a contractor to waive or cover your deductible. Our guide to storm chaser scams covers the warning signs.

Storm Photo Checklist

• Storm date, time and what you saw
• Hailstones next to a coin or ruler (and a few in the freezer)
• Wide shot of every side of the house
• Close-ups of gutters, downspouts, AC unit, screens, siding and fence
• Granules at downspout outlets
• Debris in the yard
• Roof from the ground, zoomed in
• Inside: ceilings, walls, attic
• Video walkaround
• Temporary repairs and receipts
• Everything backed up in one folder

Frequently Asked Questions About Photographing Storm Damage

Should I climb on my roof to take pictures of storm damage?

No. Storm-damaged roofs are slippery and can have loose shingles or soft decking. Photograph what you can from the ground with your zoom, and leave the roof itself to a roofer or your adjuster.

What photos does my insurance company want for a roof claim?

Wide shots of each side of the house, close-ups of damage to gutters, downspouts, siding, screens and the AC unit, any interior leaks or stains, and photos of the roof from the ground. Hailstones next to a coin or ruler are helpful too.

Do photos need a date stamp?

Not a visible one. Your phone saves the date, time and often the location inside the photo file. Keep the original, unedited files and that information stays with them.

Should I clean up before the adjuster comes?

Photograph everything first, then do what you need to for safety and to prevent more damage. Keep damaged pieces and receipts until your adjuster has seen them or tells you otherwise.

Are my photos enough, or do I still need a roof inspection?

Your photos help, but much of the damage that matters on a roof can only be found up close. A professional inspection with a photo report gives you and your adjuster the full picture.

Let Us Document the Roof

You handle the ground. We'll handle the roof. A free storm inspection from RainTech includes photos of every slope and a report you can keep with your claim. All decision makers should be home so we can walk you through what we find. Learn more on our storm and hail damage page, or book a free storm inspection.

We inspect storm damage across Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Bixby, Jenks and Sand Springs.

RainTech Roofing is a licensed Oklahoma roofing contractor, not a public adjuster or attorney. This is general information; your policy controls your coverage.

Related Reading

• How to Identify Hail Damage on Your Roof
• Filing a Hail Damage Roof Claim
• Roof Insurance Supplements, Explained

Schedule Your Free Storm Inspection →

Sources and disclaimer. Information in this article comes from public sources such as the National Weather Service, the Oklahoma Insurance Department, Oklahoma statutes and manufacturer documentation, plus RainTech’s own inspections and claims experience in the Tulsa area. It was current as of October 8, 2026; laws, insurance rules, manufacturer terms and prices change. This article is general information, not legal, insurance, tax or financial advice.